UAP Alumnus Md. Al Sadikul Islam Achieves Milestone in Sustainable Wastewater Research in the United States

Md. Al Sadikul Islam, a former student of the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Asia Pacific (UAP), has recently completed his Master of Science degree in the United States, earning recognition for his groundbreaking research in sustainable wastewater treatment.
Sadikul, who began his academic journey at UAP, developed a strong foundation in environmental engineering under the mentorship of Professor Dr. Nehreen Majed. During his undergraduate years, he not only completed his thesis under her supervision but also worked as a Research Assistant for three years. This experience significantly contributed to his early research accomplishments and publications in the field.

In 2023, Sadikul embarked on a new chapter by enrolling in the MSc program at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), having secured funding under Dr. Hossain M. Azam, P.E., an Associate Professor and the Director of UDC’s Water-Energy-Food-Climate Nexus Lab. His master's research was conducted in collaboration with DC Water, a leading water utility serving the U.S. capital.
Sadikul's work centered around optimizing nitrogen removal processes at Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant—widely regarded as the largest and most advanced facility of its kind in the world. The plant currently spends $10–12 million annually on methanol to facilitate nitrogen removal. In response to rising operational costs and more stringent nutrient discharge regulations, Sadikul explored the Partial Denitrification–Anammox (PdNA) process. His study compared methanol with primary sludge fermentate as carbon sources, aiming to make wastewater treatment more cost-effective and sustainable.
On April 28, 2025, Sadikul successfully defended his thesis, titled “Understanding Kinetics of Denitrifiers and Anammox in Full Denitrification and Partial Denitrification Conditions.” His research was jointly supervised by Dr. Hossain Azam (UDC), Dr. Haydee De Clippeleir (DC Water), and Dr. Nam Ngo (DC Water).
Beyond the lab, Sadikul made a notable impact on campus life. As President of the UDC Water Environment Federation (WEF) Student Chapter, he led initiatives to promote academic engagement and environmental awareness among students. His leadership and research have earned him national recognition within the environmental engineering community.
Sadikul’s journey from UAP to international research prominence highlights the global relevance of environmental engineering challenges and the critical role of young scientists in addressing them. His contributions promise to advance sustainable practices in wastewater treatment and provide practical solutions to utility providers worldwide.